Starter mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



F. E. TEN EYCK. STARTER MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. I915 Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

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STARTER MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGLNES.

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'- APPLICATION FILED APILZO, I915.

1 ,246,351. Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

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Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4- APPLICATION FILED APR-20.1915- I WITNESSES F. E. TEN EYCK. STARTER MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION'ENGINESi APPLICATION FILED APR-20. I915.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

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FRANK E. TEN EYGK, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOYR. TO AIR DEVICE MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINC'IS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

STARTER MECHANISM FOR IN TERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed April 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. TEN EYGK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starter Mechanism for Internal Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the said drawings,

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved starter mechanism showingit 0peratively connected with the explosive engine of an automobile or other motor vehicle, a portion of the dashboard being indicated in section and the location of the air pressure gage and control mechanism for the hand operated control valve being also illustrated.

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the apparatus showing only the mechanism forward of the dash in Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the pump and distributer mechanism, drawn to an enlarged scale.

- ig. is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the distributer casing with the front plate or closure removed and also with the valve removed.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the distributer valve as it would appear if removed and turned with its inner or working face to the front.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line 7-7 of Fig. 5, of the entire distributor showing the parts in assembled relation.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view partly in section of the hand operated control valve.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the control valve looking toward the inner or working face.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

Serial No. 22,551.

upper end of the pump cylinder showing the inlet and outlet valves therefor.

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale of one of the automatically controlled inlet valves for the engine cylinders.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line 1313 of Fig. 4, portions of the pump mechanism being broken away.

Fig. 14 is a partial section on line 14-44 of Fig. 13-with the sprocket wheel and clutch mechanism in position. 1

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view of the coupling or connecting device which I prefor to employ where the distributer is connected to the engine cylinder through the spark plug aperture.

The object of my invention is to provide a very simple, small, compact, and inexpensive apparatus operated by fluid pressure for starting an internal combustion engine, and turning it over until its operation as an internal combustion engine is secured, the said apparatus being complete in itself and providing all the necessary elements separate and apart from, but adapted to be readily connected to an internal combustion engine without inany way interferingwith the operation of the engine as an internal combustion engine. 'To this end my invention comprises among its'members a pump for compressing the motor fluid ordinarily air. into a. suitable storage tank, connections between the storage tank and the cylinders of the engine itself independent of any of the inlet passages for admitting the explosive charge, a distributer for distributing the compressed fluid to the cylinders of the engine in proper sequence and at the proper time in the cycle of each cylinder, means for connecting the distributer mechanism with the engine shaft and maintaining it in proper timed relation at all times, and means for connecting the pump to the engine only at such times as the pump is in actual use for compression purposes, the pump being normally disconnected from the engine shaft and being held disconnected from the engine shaft during the operation of starting the engine, so as to relieve the apparatus of the additional load of operating the pump. My invention also contemplates the use in such an apparatus of a hand controlled valve mechanism which will enable the operator to bring the parts into operation for the purpose of compressing fluid into the tank and automatically connecting the pump with the engine shaft and for connecting the tank or reservoir of compressed fluid with auxiliary inlets in the engine cylinder controlled by auxiliary valves operated automatically during the operation of the device as a starter to permit charges of compressed fluid to be distributed to the several cylinders, and my invention also comprises certain novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 represents the explosion or internal combustion engine which in this instance is provided with four explosion cylinders 2, 3, 4t, and 5 provided with the usual pistons connected with the engine crank shaft, inclicated at 6, which is provided in this instance with a sprocket wheel 7, by means of which power may be transmitted to the pump and to the rotary valve of the distributer, hereinafter described. The engine as illustrated in Fig. 1, is mounted on the forward part of the chassis of an automobile or other motor vehicle, the dash-board of which is indicated at 8, and the engine may be of any desired or preferred construction, it being understood that the entire starting apparatus hereinafter described may be applied to any engine without alteration therein and without in any way complicating the construction of the engine as an explosion or internal combustion engine.

Alongside of the engine, I locate a small pump or compressor 9 having a base 10 and preferably a single cylinder 11, provided with the usual compressing piston 12 connected to the usual crank shaft 13 mounted in the base 10 of the pump, so that the operation of the crank shaft 13 will operate the piston 12. The other end of the cylinder 11 is provided with an inlet valve casing 1i and spring compressed inlet valve 15, and with outlet valve casing 16 and spring compressed outlet valve 17, which is connected by a pipe 18 with a storage tank or reservoir 19 for compressed. fluid. Such tank will ordinarily be secured to some part of the vehicle and the pipe 18 will communicate with the tank through the hand operated control valve, as hereinafter described.

The base of the pump is preferably pro vided with a bearing 20 through which extends a shaft 21 which I term the distributer shaft and which has its axis parallel to that of the pump shaft 13. The distributer shaft at its rear end extends into the distributer casing which may be formed integral with the base of the pump or separate therefrom and secured thereto as preferred. This casing is illustrated in detail in 's. 5 and 7 and it is provided with a cylindrical interior having a ground inner face 23 provided with a plurality of ports 214:, which communicate by passages in the body of the distributer casing with pipes 2, 3 41 5 in this instance leading to the several cylinders of the engine 1, as hereinafter described. The distributer shaft 21 operates a rotary distributer disk valve 25 engaging the face 23 of the distributer, the said valve being detachably secured to the shaft, preferably by interlocking portions so as to permit the valve which is provided with a ground face 26 to be mounted in the proper relation with the ground face 23. For this purpose I preferably provide the end of the shaft 21 with apertures 27 to receive pins 28 located in a recess 29 in the center of the valve. The disk valve is provided with an aperture or port 30 extending therethrough for the purpose of distributing fluid pressure to one or the other of the ports 2% of the distributer in succession and I also pro- 'ide the face of the valve with a recess 31 located in advance of the port 30 and communicating by groove or recess with the central recess 29 of the valve. The recess 31 serves to relieve the cylinder in which the piston is moving toward the head of the cylinder so as to prevent compression in one cylinder while the compressed fluid is expanding in another, and when the port 30 is in operative relation with one of the ports 2-1 of the distributer, the relief recess 31 will be in operative relation with a preceding port 24 connected with that cylinder in which compression would otherwise take place, thereby relieving the compression therein back to the central recess 29 of the valve. The distributer casing is provided with an annular recess 33 surrounding the end of the shaft 21 and connected with the atmosphere by the radial passage 3%. which permits the relief of pressure from the relief recess 31 and passage 32 to the atmosphere through the annular passage 33 and the radial passage 3 see particularly Figs. 5, 6, and 7. The distributer valve is preferably held in position against the face 23 of the distributer casing by means of a spring 35 (see Fig. 7) interposed between the valve and the closure 36 which forms the outer face of the distributer casing and which is in this instance threaded and screwed into the distributer casing as shown. The cover or closure 36 is provided with a c ntral aperture 37 which is connected with a pipe 38 adapted to be placed in communication with the storage tank, as hereinafter described, for the purpose of admitting compressed fluid to the distributer from which it passes through the aperture 30 in the distributer valve to the various cylinders of the engine.

It necessary that the distributer shall be driven in timed relation with the crank shaft of the engine. It may obviously be driven from the crank or any other shaft of the engine, but I have shown it, as well as the pump shaft, arranged to be driven from the crank shaft of the engine, and it will be understood that if it is desired to operate from some other shaft of the engine, the necessary changes in caring will be made to impart the timed movementto the distributer shaft. it is also extremely desirable that the pump shaft shall not be operated when the device is used as a starter so as to relieve the engine from the necessity of also operating the pump. T therefore preferably employ gear connections which maintain the distributer shaft at all times in operative and timed relation with the crank shaft of the engine, while the. pump shaft is entirely disconnected from the driving connections and is only connected therewith when it is desired to compressfluid into the tank. in the present instance I have shown the pump shaft provided with a sleeve 40 loosely mounted on the pump shaft and provided with a sprocket wheel 41 operatively connected by chain 42 with the sprocket wheel 7 on the crank shaft 6 of the engine. The sleeve 40 is also provided with a gear 43 meshing with a gear wheel 44 secured to the distributer shaft 21 so that motion is at all times imparted to the dis tributer shaft and distributer valve when the engine is running and the distributer valve is so placed on the distributer shaft that it will be and remain at all times in timed relation with the engine crank shaft.

hen it is desired to operate the pump, the pump shaft will be connected with the sleeve 40 by means of suitable clutch mecha nism, and I prefer to render this clutching action automatic when the outlet between the pump and the tank is open, and to have the sleeve 40 take up the pump shaft with as little jar as possible. To this end I provide on the sleeve 40 and preferably on one face of the sprocket 41, a clutch member comprising two oppositely disposed segmental portions 45 and 46 having their inner edges separated and substantially parallel, and I provide the pump shaft with a clutch member 7 secured rigidly thereto and provided with a projecting portion adapted to fit between the inner faces of the segments 4546. The segments 45 and 46 are preferably of different heights, as shown in Fig. 4 and the opposite end portions of the projection on the clutch member 47 are of different heights, as indicated at 48 and 49. The sleeve 40 is capable of slight longitudinal movement on the pump shaft in addition to being loosely mounted thereon, and for actuating the same, I prefer to provide a pair of cylinders 5050, which are conveniently formed in the head of the pump base 10 and are provided with pistons 5151 connected to a yoke 52 which engages a curved portion of the sleeve 40. Each of the pistons are normally held in retracted position by springs 53, said springs nornally holding the clutch members in separated relation and the pump out of operation. A by pass in this instance a pipe 54, communicates from the casing 16 of the outlet valve of the pump, above the outlet valve, to the two ciutch actuating cylinders 50 by means of suitable passages in the head of the pump base, so that on opening the communication between the outlet valve casing and the storage tank, the back pressure from the tank will immediately extend to the cylinders 50 and move the sleeve 40 outward so as to bring the clutch members into engagement and secure the interlocking of the projecting portions 48 49 of the clutch member 47 with the se ments 4546. The construction of the clutch members is such that when they are pressed together by the yielding pressure of the compressed fluid in the cylinders 50, the reduced segment 46 will ordinarily engage the high portion 49 of the clutch member 47 and permit the quarter revolution of the sleeve with respect to the pump shaft before the higher segment 45 engages the higher face of the pro jection, when the parts will slip into looking engagement. The specific form of the clutch mechanism forms no part of my pres ent invention, and other forms of clutch mechanism may be employed in lieu thereof. It will also be seen that by cutting off the communication between the storage tank and the outlet pipe 18 of the pump, the springs will restore the parts to normal position and disconnect the pump from the driving sleeve 40.

I prefer to employ in connection with the apparatus hereinbefore described, a hand operated control valve which is interposed in the connections between the storage tank and the pump and between the storage tank and the distributer in order that the apparatus may be set for use either as a pump or as a starter without the pump by a proper adjustment of this hand operated valve. Such a valve is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings, in which 60 represents the casing of the controlling valve, having a ground inner face 61 provided with two ports 62 and 63. The casing is also provided with an auxiliary outlet 64. Within the casing is the control valve 65 which is preferably in the form of a disk valve having a ground face engaging the face 61 of the valve casing and held in closed relation therewith by a spring 66 interposed between the valve and the movable cover or closure 67, which in this instance is threaded and screwed into the valve casing and is provided with a central aperture 68. The valve casing is provided with a bearing sleeve 69 through which extends the actuating valve shaft 70, the inner end of which is provided with interlocking means for connecting it with the control valve 65. In this instance, the inner end of the shaft is provided with apertures to receive pins 71 projecting from the face of the valve within a recess in the valve which embraces the end of the shaft 70. The valve stem or actuating shaft is provided with an actuating handle 72 and a pointer 7 movable over a scale or indicating se ment 7% which may be conveniently provided on a bracket 75 secured to the sleeve 76 of the steering wheel shaft 77 to which the steering wheel 7 8 is attached, a suitable bracket 79 being provided for clamping the valve casing to the sleeve 76. The aperture 68 in the cover of the valve casing is connected by a pipe 80 with the tank or reservoir 19 for storing compressed fluid. The outlet pipe 18 from the pump cylinder is connected to one of the ports in the casing. in this instance the port 62, and the other of said ports is connected by the pipe 38 with the distributer. For convenience of reference, I call the pipe 38 the starter line, and the pipe 18 the pump line.

The valve 65 is provided with ports 62 and 63 extending through the same and adapted to be brought into registration respectively with the ports 62 and 68 when the valve is rotated to the pump or starter positions, as hereinafter described.

Each of the cylinders of the engine is in communication with the distributer through one of the starter pipes 2, 3 5, as before described, and I provide each cylinder with an auxiliary inlet for the pressure fluid independent of the means by which the explosive charge is supplied to the cylinder in the normal operation of the engine as an internal combustion engine, and I interpose between each of the supply pipes and the auxiliary inlet of its respective cylinders, an automatic normally closed controlling valve which is provided with means for automatically opening it when the starting apparatus is to be operated to start the engine by compressed fluid. The auxiliary inlet for each cylinder may be provided in any desired manner. For example, it may be a special aperture drilled in the cylinder and threaded for the purpose, or where the cylinders are provided with a priming aperture, I can conveniently utilize the priming aperture. lVhere the cylinders are not provided with priming apertures and where it is not desired to form a special aperture in the cylinder, I can conveniently connect the compressed fluid pipes with the spark plug apertures in the cylinder heads, and in the accompanying drawings I have shown the connection made in this manner, it being understood that I do not limit myself to this construction. Thus in Fig. 1, I have shown the spark plugs 90 connected to the cylinder by means of auxiliary couplings 91 one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 15, said cou pling having a threaded portion which ongages the threaded aperture usually occupied by the spark plug and being provided with a threaded aperture in its upper end to receive the spark plug, the said coupling or fitting 91 being provided with a branch passage 92 which forms the auxiliary inlet aperture tothe cylinder and is threaded to receive the auxiliary inlet valve, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 152. As shown in this figure, the ,valve comprises a casing 93 having a threaded portion at its lower end and a valve seat 94: to receive the auxiliary inlet valve 95, the stem of which is provided with a piston 96 working in a cylindrical portion 97 in the upper end of the valve casing and the upper end of the valve casing is provided with a head 98 hav ing a transverse passage 99 therethrough with a threaded nipple at either end, and having a vertically disposed passage 100 communicating from the passage 99 to tae cylindrical portion of the valve casing above the piston 96. A spring 101 surrounding the va ve stem engages a movable piston ring 102 between which and the piston head 96, is inserted compressible material 103, and the spring 101 not only holds the valve 95 against its seat, but also secures the compression of this packing material 103 a maintains the piston tight. The valve casing is provided with an air inlet aperture 104: which receives the pipe 2 (or 3, etc.) from the distributer and the valve stem which is preferably made in two parts for convenience of assembling, is reduced adjacent to the aperture 10st.

lVhere the engine is provided with a plurality of cylinders. as shown in Fig. 1, each cylinder is provided with the auxiliary valve just described for controlling the aux-- iliary inlet and the passage 99 of each valve is connected through the hand operated control valve with the tank or reservoir of compressed fluid, when the apparatus is to be used as a starter. For convenience, the passages 99 of the several valves may be connected by means of pipes 105, the exterior nipple of the last valve of the series being closed by cap 106 and the exterior nipple of the first valve being connected by pipe 107 with the starter pipe 38. The valve casing also has its port 6st connected with a pressure gage 108 by means of a pipe 109 the port 64: being always in communication with the pipe 80 extending to the pressure tank. The face of the controlling valve is also provided with relief recesses 65, 65 which are normally in communication respectively with the ports 62, 63, when the valve is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 9, and

said relief recesses are connected with the atmosphere in any desired manner. In this instance said recesses are connected by a transverse groove with the central recess in the valve, which receives the end of the actuating shaft 70 and said shaft is provided with a longitudinally disposed groove 70 extending through its inner end to an annular grooved portion 7 within the bearing portion of the casing, said bearing portion being provided with a downwardly extending aperture 60 leading to the atmosphere.

The operation of the apparatus will be as follows. Assuming that the engine is run ning and that the valve handle 72 is in normal or neutral position, it will be understood that the pump is not in operation, but that the driving sleeve 40 is in operation, together with the distributor shaft and distributer valve, If it be desired to compress air into the storage tank, the operator will partially rotate the hand operated control valve 65 by means of the handle 72 so as to bring the port 62 in the valve into communication with the port 62 and pump line 18. Back pressure from the tank will then pass from the pipe 80 through the controlling valve and pump line 18 to the outlet valve casing of the, pump and through the by pass 5 to the actuating cylinders 50, and operate the clutch mechanism before de scribed, so that the driving'sleeve will actuate the pump shaft and pump piston, therebv compressing air and forcing it back through the pump line 18 to the tank until the required pressure, is indicated on the gage 108, when the operator will return the handle to neutral position. As soon as the handle is returned to neutral position, the port 62 will. be broughtinto communication with the relief recess 65 and while the pipe line is shut ofl' from the tank by the valve, the accumulated pressure in the pump line 18 will exhaust to the atmosphere and instantly permit the springs 53 to disengage the clutch mechanism and stop the pump, while the driving sleeve continues to rotate.

If the engine is at rest and it is desired to start, the operator will throw the handle of the controlling valve so as to bring the port 63 of the valve into registration with the port 63 and admit compressed fluid from the pipe 80 and tank to the starter line 38 leading to the distributer, and the pressure is also communicated through the branch pipe 107 to the piston cylinders of each of the automatic auxiliary inlet valves before described, on the engine cylinders, thereby opening said inlets. The pressure fluid will be transmitted bv the distributer to that cylinder in which the piston is in the re-- tracted position, while the cylinder in advance of the same, will be placed into communication with the atmosphere by the relief recess 31 of the distributer valve, as before described, and the engine will be immediatelv started. The rotation of the engine shaft will cause a proper timed operation of the disk valve of the distributer so as to progressively admit fluid to the several cyl inders and simultaneously relieve the corresponding cylinders in which compression would otherwise occur. This operation does not interfere with the cylinders drawing in their charges of fuel or explosive mixture and as soon as the engine has been turned over, an explosion will result in the proper cylinder and the engine will begin to operate under its own explosive, power. operator then restores the handle of the controlling valve to its neutral position, thereby shutting off the supply of compressed fluid to the distributer and simultaneously bringingthe relief recess 65 into registration with the port 63 so that the starter line 38 and its branch line 107 are immediately relieved of pressure, thus permitting the auxiliary inlet valves to be instantly seated by their retracting springs 101, and shutting off the supply of compressed fluid to the engine. During the starting of the engine, it will be noticed that the pump is not operated, and it is only necessary to turn the engine itself. It will also be noted that a very small pump, such as the small one cylinder pump herein shown and described, is all that is necessary for the starter operation of my improved starting mechanism, as the pump can be operated as long as is necessary while the engine is running to store up the desired amount of compressed fluid at the desired pressure in the tank or reservoir, and in starting the engine the pressure fluid is delivered directly from the tank at the accumulated pressure to the cylinders of the engine through the distributor for turning over the engine only without operating the pump. It will also be noted that the pump mechanism has combinedwith it the distributer and the operative means therefor, which can be connected to the crank shaft of the engine for securing the proper actuation of the pump for compressing purposes and of the engine for starting purposes without making any change in or adding any parts to the structure of the engine itself, and the mechanism is so constructed that it can be readily fastened in place in proper relation alongside of the engine with which it is to be used while the controlling valve can readily be attached to the steering sleeve of an. automobile and the auxiliary inlet valve can be applied to the cylinder either at the spark plug aperture in the manner described, or in any other desired way, so that by making the proper pipe connections the whole apparatus can be quickly and easily installed in connection with any internal combustion engine at very slight expense, and can be controlled at all times from the hand lover of The the controlling valve in the manner described.

For convenience of manufacture, I prefer to make the shaft of the hand operated control valve in twoparts, as indicated in Fig 8, connected by a coupling sleeve 110 which is rigidly connected by pins or screws with the two parts of the shaft, embraced by it. Said sleeve is conveniently provided with a stop pin or lug 111, adapted to en gage shoulder 112 on the bearing portion of the valve casing to limit the movement of the shaft 70 in either direction.

While, as before stated, I do not limit my self to the construction shown for connecting the auxiliary inlet valve casings to the cyl inders of the engine through the spark plug apertures, l find this a convenient arrangement, and in the use of the starter the inrushing charges of compressed air will pass directly over and around the platinum con tacts of the igniter, as shown in Fig. 15, and

tend to keep them free from oil, moisture, and dirt.

The sp cific forms of the inlet valve, the devices for connecting it with the cylinder and the disk valves for the distributer, and for the hand operated controlling valve, are not herein specifically claimed as these special constructions form the subject matter of separate applications.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination with a reservoir for compressed fluid, and a normally inoperative pump for supplying compres ed fluid to the reservoir, of a distributer provided with a movable controlling valve, a connection between the distributer and said reservoir, a connection from said distributer to a cylinder of the engine for supplying fluid pressure thereto, independent of any means for supplying explosive charges, driving connections for the distributer valve, adapted to connect it with a shaft of the engine and to operate it in timed relation therewith, clutch mechanism for operatively connecting the pump with the engine for operating the pump, an actuating cylinder and piston for said clutch mechanism, a by pass from the connection between the pump and the reservoir, connected to said cylinder, and hand operated controlling valve mechanism for the connections between the reservoir and said pump and said distributer, whereby the admission of compressed fluid from the reservoir to the distributer will start the engine without operating the pump and the admission of compressed fiuid to the pump will connect the pump with the engine.

2. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination with a reservoir for compressed fluid, of a normally inoperative pump connected therewith, a distributor provided with a movable controlling valve, driving connections for operatively connecting the said valve to a shaft of the engine to operate said valve in timed relation therewith, a connection from said reservoir to the distributer, a connection extending from said distributor to a cylinder of the engine for supplying compressed fluid thereto independently of the means for supplying explosive charges, mechanism for operatively connecting the pump with a shaft of the engine including clutch mechanism, a spring for holding said clutch mech anism normally in inoperative position, an actuating cylinder and piston for said clutch mechanism, a bypass from the connection between the pump and the reservoir to said actuating cylinder, and a hand operated control valve interposed in the connections between the reservoir and said pump and said distributer, constructed to connect one or other of said devices with the reservoir.

3. In a starting mechanism for a multicylinder internal combustion engine, the combination with a compressed fluid reservoir, and anormally inoperative pump connected therewith, of a distributer provided with a rotary valve, a connection from the reservoir to said distributer, connections from said distributer extending to each of the cylinders of the engine for supplying compressed fluid thereto, independent of any means for supplying the explosive charges, means for operatively connecting the distributor valve with a shaft of the engine, in timed relation therewith, said distributer and valve being provided with re lief passages for relieving the compression 'in the engine cylinders, independent means normally held in inoperative position, for connecting the pump with the engine, an actuating cylinder and piston for l'inging said independent connecting means into operative position, a connection from said cylinder to the reservoir and valve mechanism for independently controlling the connections from said reservoir to said distributer and to said actuating cylinder.

4. In starting mechanism for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, the combination with a compressed fluid reservoir and a pump connected therewith, of a distributor provided with a rotary valve, a connection from the reservoir to said distributer, connections from said distributer extending to each of the Cylinders of the engine for supplying compressed fiuid thereto, independent of any means for supplying the explosive charges, means for operatively connecting the valve with a shaft of the engine in timed relation therewith, said distributer and valve being provided with relief passages for relieving the compression in the engine cylinders, mechanism including a clutch for connecting the pump with the shaft of the engine, a spring for helding said clutch in inoperative position, an actuating piston and cylinder for operating said clutch and by pass from the connection betwe n the pump and reservoir to said actuating cylinder, a hand operated controlling valve interposed in the connection between the pump and reservoir, said valve being provided with means for relieving pressure in the portion of said connection between the valve and the pump when the valve is in inoperative position.

5. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a cylinder provided with an auxiliary'inlet, a normally closed valve for said inlet, an actuating cylinder, and piston for opening said valve, a reservoir for compressed fluid, a connection from the reservoir to said auxiliary inlet, a distributer separate from the engine structure interposed in said coimection, means for connecting the distributer to a shaft of the engine, in timed relation therewith, a normally inoperative pump connected with said,

reservoir, normally inoperative connecting devices extendin from the )uma'to a shaft of the engine, an actuating cylinder and pis ton for bringing said connections into operative position, valve mechanism for independently controlling the connections from said reservoir to the distributer and to the pump, a by-pass from the distributer connection to the actuating cylinder for said inlet valve, and a by-pass from the pump connection to the actuating cylinder for said normally inoperative connecting devices.

6. The combination with an internal combustion engine having acylinder proviced with an auxiliary inlet, a normally closed valve for said inlet, an actuating cylinder, and piston for opening said valve, a reservoir for compressed fluid, a connection from the reservoir to said auxiliary inlet, a dis tributer separate from the engine structure interposed in said connection, means for connecting the distributer to a shaft of the engine, in timed relation therewith, a normally inoperative pump connected with said reservoir, normally inoperative connecting devices extending from thepump to a shaft of the engine, an actuating cylinder and piston for bringing said connect-ions into operative position, valve mechanism for independently controlling the connections from said reservoir to the distributer and to the pump, a by-pass from the distributer connection to the actuating cylinder for said inlet valve, and a by-pass from the pump connection to the actuating cylinder for said normally inoperative connecting devices, said controlling valve mechanism beingprovided with means for relieving pressure in said by-passes when the valve mechanism.is in inoperative position.

7. The combination with an internal o0mbustion engine, having a cylinder provided with a normally closed auxiliary inlet valve, an actuating cylinder and piston for open= ing said valve and holding it in open position, a reservoir for compressed fluid, a connection from the reservoir to saidauxiliary inlet valve, a distributer separate from the engine structure interposed in said connection and provided with a movable controlling 7 valve, means foroperatively connecting sai valve with a shaft of the engine in timed relation therewith, a bypass for establislr ing communication between the reservoir and the actuating cylinder for the auxiliary inlet valve, a pump, a connection between the pump and the reservoir means including clutch mechanism for connecting the pump to ashaft of the engine, a spring normally holding said clutch in inoperative position, an actuating cylinder and piston for operat ing said clutch, aby pass from the connection between the pump and reservoir to said actuating cylinder, a controlling valve interposed in the connections between the reservoir and the pump and distributer, and provided with means for admitting compressed fluid to one or other of said devices, said valve being provided with means for quickly relieving pressure in the connection between said valve and the distributer, and the connection between saidvalve and the pump, independent of each other. a

S. In a starting mechanism for'interna'l combustion engines, the combination with a we reservoir, of a pump provided with an actuating shaft, a connection between said pump and reservoir, a distributer mounted on said pump and provided with a rotary controlling valve. gearing connecting the said valve to ma a shaft of the engine at all times independently of the pump in timed relation therewith,'including a part loosely mounted on the pump shaft, a connection from the reservoir to the distributer, a connection from 11 the distributer to a cylinder of the engine, for starting the engine, *-.vit-hout operating the pump, and clutch mechanism for connecting said gearing with the pump shaft when it is desired to operate the pump to compress fluid into the reservoir.

9. in a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination'with a reservoir, of a pump provided with an actu ating shaft, a connection between said pump 12% and reservoir, a distributer mounted on said pump and provided witha rotary controlling valve, gearing for-connecting the said valve to a shaft of the engine in timed relation therewith, including a part loosely mounted on the pump shaft, a connection from the reservoir to the distributer, a connection from the distributor to a cylinder of the engine, for starting the engine, without operating the pump, clutch-mcchanism for connecting said gearing with the piunp shaft when it is desired to operate the pump to compress fluid into the reservoir, an actuating piston and cylinder for said clutch, a bypass from the connection between the pump nection from the distributer to a cylinder of the engine, for starting the engine, without operating the pump, clutch mechanism for connecting said gearing with the pump shaft when it is desired to operate the pump to i compress fluid into the reservoir, a sprlng normally holding said clutch in inoperative position, an actuating cylinder and piston for operating the clutch, a by-pass from the connection betwen the pump and reservoir extending to said cylinder, a normally closed valve for controlling the admission of pressure fluid from the reservoir to the engine cylinder, an actuating cylinder and piston for opening said valve, and a by-pass from the connection between the engine cylinder and the reservoir communicating with the said valve actuating cylinder.

11. In starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination with a reservoir, of a pump provided with an actuating shaft, a connection between said pump and reservoir, a distributer mounted on said pump and provided with a rotary controlling valve, gearing for connecting the said valve to a shaft of the engine in timed relation therewith, including a part loosely mounted on the pump shaft, a connection from the reservoir to the distributer, a connection from the distributer to a cylinder of the engine, for starting the engine, without operating the pump, clutch mechanism for connecting said gearing with the pump shaft when it is des' ed to operate the pump to compress fluid into the reservoir, a spring normally holding said clutch in inoperative position, an actuating cylinder and piston for operating the clutch, a by-pass from the connection between the pump and reservoir extending to said cylinder, a normally closed valve for controlling the admission of pressure fluid from the reservoir to the engine cylinder, an actuating cylinder and piston for opening said valve, aby-pass from the connection between the engine cylinder and the reservoir communicating with the said valve actuating cylinder, and a controlling valve mechanism interposed in the connections between the pump and reservoir and engine cylinder and reservoir, provided with a hand operated valve for placing one or the other of said connections in communication with the reservoir.

12. In starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination with a reservoir, of a pump provided with an actuating shaft, a connection between said pump and reservoir, a distributer mounted on said pump and provided with a rotary controlling valve, gearing f r connecting the said valve to a shaft of the engine in timed relation therewith, including a part loosely mounted on the pump shaft, a connection from the reservoir to the distributer, a connection from the distributer to a cylinder of the engine, for starting the engine, without operating the pump, clutch mechanism for connecting said gearing with the pump shaft when it is desired to operate the pump to compress fluid into the reservoir, a spring normally holding said clutch in inoperative position, an actuating cylinder and piston for operating the clutch, a bypass from the connection between the pump and reservoir extending to said cylinder, a normally closed valve for controlling the admission of pressure fluid from the reservoir to the engine cylinder, an actuating cylinder and piston for opening said valve, a by-pass from the connection between the engine cylinder and the reservoir communicating with the said valve actuating cylinder, and a controlling valve mechanism interposed in the connections between the pump and reservoir and engine cylinder and reservoir, provided with a hand operated valve for placing one or the other of said connections in communication with the reservoir, said valve being provided with mechanism for relieving pressure in said connections and the by passes therefrom when the valve is in normal position.

13. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination with a reservoir for compressed fluid, a normally inoperative pump separate from the engine for supplying compressed fluid thereto, and a pump pipe line connecting said pump and reservoir, of a distributer mounted on the pump and provided with rotary controlling valve, said distributer being provided with a plurality of ports, connections adapted to place said ports in communication with auxiliary inlets of the several engine cylinders for supplying fluid pressure thereto, inde pendent of the explosive charges therefor, a normally closed auxiliary inlet valve for controlling each of said connections, an actuating piston and cylinder for each of said valves, a starter pipe line for connecting said distributer with the reservoir, independently of the pump, a by-pass from said starter pipe line to all of said actuating cylinders, said distributer also being provided with a relief recess for placing the distributer ports successively in communication with the atmosphere to relieve pressure in the engine cylinders, mechanism adapted to connect the dis tributer valve with a shaft of the engine in timed relation therewith, clutch mechanism.

adapted to connect the pump with a shaft of the engine, an actuating cylinder and piston for said clutch mechanism, a by-pass from the pump pipe line independent of the starter pipe line, communicating with said actuating cylinder, a spring normally holding said clutch in inoperative position, and a controlling valve mechanism interposed between the reservoir and the pump and starter pipe lines and normally closing both, provided with a hand operated valve for placing one or other of said pipe lines in communication with the reservoir.

14. In astarting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination with a reservoir for compressed fluid, a normally inoperative pump separate from the engine for supplying compressed fluid thereto, and a pump pipe line connecting said pump and reservoir, of a distributer mounted on the pump provided with rotary controlling valve, said distributer being provided with a plurality of ports, connections adapted to place said ports in communication with auxiliary inlets of the several engine cylinders for supplying fluid pressure thereto, independent of the explosive charges therefor, a normally closed auxiliary inlet valve for controlling each of said connections, an actuating piston and cylinder for each of said valves, a starter pipe line for connecting said distributer with the reservoir, independently of the pump, a by-pass from said starter pipe line to all of said actuating cylinders, said distributer also being provided with a relief recess for placing the distributer ports successively in communication with the atmosphere to relieve pressure in the engine cylinders, mechanism adapted to connect the distributer valve with a shaft of the engine in timed relation therewith, clutch mechanism adapted to connect the pump with a shaft of the engine, an actuating cylinder and piston for said clutch mechanism,a by-pass from the pump pipe line independent of the starter pipe line, communicating with said actuating cylinder, a spring normally holding said clutch in inoperative position, and a controlling valve mechanism interposed between the reservoir and the pump and starter pipe lines and normally closing both, provided with a hand operated valve for placing one or other of said pipe lines in communication with the reservoir, said valve being provided with means for independently placing both of said pipe lines in communication with the atmosphere when the valve is in normal position, to relieve compression in said pipe lines and the bypass connected therewith.

15. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination with a reservoir for compressed fluid, of a normally inoperative pump connected with the reservoir, a distributer casing connected with the reservoir and provided with means for connecting it with a cylinder of the engine, a rotary distributer valve in said casing, gearing for connecting said distributer valve at all times with the engine shaft in timed re lation therewith, mechanism normally out of operative position for connecting the pump shaft to a shaft of the engine and a single manually operated control device for controlling the connection between the distributer casing and the reservoir and for moving said pump actuating mechanism into operative position when the connection between the reservoir and the starting mechanism is closed.

16. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination with a reservoir for compressed fluid, of a normally inoperative pump connected with the reservoir, a distributer casing connected with the reservoir and provided with means for connecting it with a cylinder of the engine, a rotary distributer valve in said casing, gearing for connecting said distributer valve at all times with the engine shaft in timed relation therewith, mechanism normally out of operative position for connecting the pump shaft with the gearing for driving the distributer valve, and a single manually operated control device for controlling the connection between the distributer casing and the reservoir and for moving said pump actuating mechanism into operative position when the connection between the reservoir and the starting mechanism is closed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. TEN EYCK.

Witnesses:

A. F. HALBRITTER, CHAs. R. HALL.

copies of this patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

